Nobody wants to leave the home they love because they can no longer live in it safely.
Sadly, though, this is a reality for people with mobility limitations related to age, medical conditions, or injuries.
But there is one effective way to avoid moving out of a beloved property: modifying it to create an accessible home.
The number of changes required will depend on the extent of your mobility limitations. For example, a bathroom may require extensive adjustments if you struggle to take a shower or bath. There are various options available for these situations, from grab bars and walk-in baths to seated showers.
In any case, modifying your property to create an accessible home offers several crucial benefits. We’ll explore the top five below.
Increase your safety
Safety in the home is paramount at any age, in any situation. Being young and agile doesn’t make you impervious to potential mishaps.
But if you live with limited mobility, you may feel more concerned for your safety when performing even the most basic household tasks.
Even moving from one room to another could leave you feeling uneasy if your hallways are too narrow to maneuver your wheelchair safely, or you struggle to climb stairs with confidence.
Live-in caregivers, friends, and family members may be happy to lend a helping hand, but an accessible home provides welcome peace of mind for those that require it.
Making a few alterations inside and/or outside your property could reduce common risks, such as losing your balance on stairs or slipping on a wet bathroom floor.
For example, installing a stairlift eliminates the danger of climbing stairs, either by yourself or with a helper. You simply sit in the chair, secure yourself, and direct the stairlift up or down the railing with the user-friendly controls.
Stairlifts can be fitted to straight and curved staircases. They are a practical addition to properties of diverse sizes and layouts. Stairlifts are also suitable for interior and exterior installation.
Restore your independence
The loss of independence is one of the most difficult aspects of living with limited mobility. Particularly if you have spent decades caring for yourself and enjoying the freedom of your own home.
Even if you rely on a trusted partner or relative for help with various everyday tasks, someone you know is happy to assist you in any situation, you may still crave a little more independence.
Creating an accessible home can restore it. In multiple ways.
Imagine you want to come and go as you please without asking a helper to lift your wheelchair up or down to the street each time. One option is to install a ramp running from your front or rear door to the sidewalk.
This is much simpler and safer than being forced to negotiate steep steps. Especially in wet or icy weather.
Another option is to fit a stairlift to an outdoor railing. If you can transfer yourself from your wheelchair to the seat and back, you might find this to be a viable solution. Again, the best stairlifts include user-friendly controls, so ascending and descending is simple.
And you could make minor or major modifications to your bathroom, which is one area of the home in which independence is particularly important. Installing grab bars or an accessible bath/shower could help you retain your privacy.
Avoid the expense of moving to a new property
Relocating costs money. And moving to a home built with accessibility in mind could be incredibly expensive.
Other essentials can all add up too. Additional taxes from the sale of your home, changing your home insurance policy, implementing security — there’s a lot to consider. It’s not surprising that moving homes is widely considered one of the most stressful events a person can experience, even more so than attending a job interview or having a baby.
But adjusting your current home to make it accessible is a more cost-effective option. And you will get to stay in the property you love.
It may also add value to your home in the future, particularly if you attract buyers with similar accessibility requirements.
Maintain normal domestic activities
Limited mobility can make performing basic household chores and activities significantly harder — or even impossible.
Everything from taking laundry upstairs and carrying shopping in from the car to opening the door for the mail carrier may all become too difficult. You might depend on family members or a carer to handle all this for you, but it can be tough to accept that you’re no longer capable of tackling minor jobs that you’ve always done independently.
Fortunately, adding a few new features to your home could empower you with the mobility and confidence to complete domestic activities safely.
You may place laundry in your lap while you climb the stairs in your stairlift. You could bring shopping inside via a wheelchair ramp or an external stairlift. And grab bars can help you stay stable while you open your front door.
Even if you can’t do everything you once did, transforming your property into an accessible home can help you to live more independently.
How to start making your home accessible
If you want to make your home accessible, research should be your first step.
Speak with other people you know who have made changes to their properties. Ask what adjustments have benefited them most, and for recommendations on particular products.
It’s also vital that you choose to work with a reputable access solutions provider. A reliable business will offer a free in-depth consultation to understand your requirements and identify potential structural challenges before they make recommendations. Consultations may be conducted in person or virtually via an online video chat platform.
The quality of support, servicing, and warranties is another crucial factor to consider when choosing a business to create your accessible home.
Total Access Solutions’ team has more than 30 years of experience in making homes accessible with products of the highest quality. Schedule your free consultation today to discover how we can help you!
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